Present: Gulbranson, Olson, Anderson, Pederson, Emerson

Absent: None

Mayor Emerson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance was spoken.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Olson, to approve the agenda. All Ayes.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve consent items, including July City bills in the amount of $524,160.66, meeting minutes from July 6, 2009, and July 10, 2009. All Ayes.

Council is concerned that the overtime report is increasing every month.

Council would like the Supervisors to review scheduled hours and see if the overtime could be eliminated.

Traci Ryan informed the EDA that Mike Roach is interested in progressing with a project on his property at Lake Street. Ryan asked the EDA Board if they would consider negotiating the TIF %, if Roach proceeded with his project.

Roach will need to go to the Planning & Zoning.

Blue Ox Timbers has lost their back log, so they will look into building next spring.

Joe Ketelboeter was not in attendance.

Pete Erickson and Craig Dropik were in attendance.

Council received the run sheet for July. The Council was informed that the no shows on the report are for when First Responders do not show up for calls.

Erickson and Dropik informed the Council that The Head of the Lakes Resort will be having a Customer Appreciation Day on August 29, 2009, and would like to have the First Responder rig there. The Council has no problem with them having the rig there.

Mark Pomerleau was in attendance.

Chris Randall presented the Council with the Schedule I & II at the July meeting. The amount that is to be paid in 2010 is $52,667.00. The extra money will come out of the equipment fund.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Anderson, to approve the Schedule I & II for 2010 for the amount of $52,667.00. All Ayes.

Pomerleau informed the Council that three bids for the fire truck had been received and opened. Bids are as follows: Elrosa $1,525.00; Dale Massman $3,553.00; Brandon $8,000.00.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve Brandon’s bid for the fire truck for the amount of $8,000.00. All Ayes.

Pomerleau informed the Council the Fire Department responded to two fire calls, one at the Dennis Maus Farm (barn) and one at Idlewilde Resort (cabin fire).

Locks have been changed at the fire hall due to some issues that are going on.

Mark Gilson was in attendance.

Council received the July Police Report.

Gilson was asked to serve on the 800 Megahertz Advisory Board if this would be ok with the Council. Consensus of the Council was to allow him to be on the board. It would consist of about one meeting a month in Alexandria.

Council received a Resolution for the Council to adopt to allow part-time officer Randall Athmann to be in the Police and Fire PERA.

A Resolution was presented by Anderson, seconded by Olson, to approve to allow the part-time police officer Randy Athmann to be enrolled in the Police and Fire PERA. When put to a vote, the Resolution passed unanimously

Ron Kleinschmidt was in attendance.

Council received the July report.

Kleinschmidt reported to the Council that the crosswalk signs would be $375.00 each.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Emerson, to purchase two portable crosswalk signs at a cost of $375.00 each. All Ayes.

Kleinschmidt will contact DATA regarding the trail and have the trail moved around the wastewater ponds.

Kleinschmidt reported that the cost of the Queen Street West ditch and King Street would be $2,000.00.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Anderson, to approve to clean the Queen Street West and King Street ditches at a cost of $2,000.00. All Ayes.

Kleinschmidt informed the Council that the City is on the list for a new dock and ramps at the public access.

An ad will be put in the paper for August 29th to have an open house for the public to have a tour of the water plant. The time will be from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

If the TMDL limits increase in the future, Kleinschmidt will look into installing a Solar Bee in the wastewater ponds. Then Kleinschmidt will contact Sauk River Watershed District to help with the $50,000.00 cost.

An ad will be put in the paper for sealed bids for the old Indian statue that was removed from Osagi Park.

Council would like overtime eliminated. Each department will review schedule of shifts and compensation time.

Clerk Jacobson reviewed the tapes and the minutes from the meetings for the First Avenue East assessments.

Council discussed the past meetings from December 3, 2008 and December 10, 2008 and felt they were under the understanding the assessment would be deferred.

Clerk Jacobson noted the attorney’s letter, stating the City would have to put provisions in our assessment policy to defer the assessments.

Council felt it was going to create a hardship for the club.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Emerson, to defer the assessment for the Trailblazers Saddle Club. Vote was 3 no’s and 2 yes’s. Motion failed for lack of majority.

At the last meeting the Council chose to wait to hear from the USDA on the approval of the plans.

Kleinschmidt met with Brian Hiles and requested to remove the clear well from the project plans which will save $125,000.00 on the project.

Council will need to decide if they want to proceed with the project and hold a public hearing to receive input.

We are waiting to hear from Rural Development regarding the approval of the plans and the grant money amount that the City would receive for the plant.

Kleinschmidt will hold an open house on August 29, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, for the public to tour the water plant.

The Board of Appeals and Equalization training is on August 5, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Long Prairie Government Center located at 347 Central Avenue in Long Prairie.

Anderson will attend this training.

At the July Council meeting, the Council wanted Clerk Jacobson to check on getting a copy of a flood ordinance.

Clerk Jacobson has received this ordinance and will take some time to review it.

Council received the preliminary budget. The amounts were calculated from each department head.

Expenditures for 2010: $1,100,447.78

Revenues for 2010: $990,849.00

Total difference: -$109,598.78

Council also received the General Fund Savings, All Funds Savings (Allocated), Bonds Schedules and Cash Balance. The special levy for the bonds will need to be increased by at least $9,000.00.

Clerk Jacobson will set up a meeting the third week in August to review the budget.

At the July meeting the Council requested a copy of the last agreement with Charter for the lease of the City Hall property.

Council received the Lease Agreement and the First Amendment Agreement.

After discussion with Charter, they have actually removed items from our property to clean it up. They are not changing or increasing anything on the property.

The amendment is to renew the lease and to extend the time.

Charter currently provides cable service to the City Hall, Fire Hall, and Liquor Store with this lease agreement.

Council also received the channel changes from Charter.

Motion by Gulbranson, seconded by Anderson, to approve the amended lease agreement with Charter. All Ayes.

Council received the meeting minutes from the July 16, 2009, Planning & Zoning meeting.

Mayor Emerson read the following ordinance change to apply to 18.09 & 31.03 #7:

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Olson, to approve July 16, 2009 meeting minutes, ordinance change and waive the second reading of the ordinance change. All Ayes.

Council received a letter from Briggs and Morgan (our bond counsel). They are asking us to sign the letter stating we do not believe there is any conflict of interest with them also representing Xcel Energy.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve to acknowledge that Briggs and Morgan represents Xcel Energy and there is no conflict with the City of Osakis. All Ayes.

Council received copies of the meeting minutes from the special meeting on July 10, 2009.

Clerk Jacobson received a $500.00 check from George Bender. No other money has been received.

Ashley Schultz will be working at the center until August 14, 2009.

Council is requesting that all groups involved in the center will meet this fall to discuss the center.

Clerk Jacobson will put an ad in the paper stating that the information center will be closed after August 14, 2009. Clerk Jacobson will also be collecting keys for the building.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to adjourn at 8:55 p.m. All Ayes.

_______________________             ____________________________

Mayor – Keith Emerson                     City Clerk – Angela A. Jacobson